Sick In The Clouds

“No.” Dash said stubbornly.

“Excuse me?” Applejack replied not amused.

"I’m not going to do it I said.” she said turning from the blonde mare.

“Rainbow Dash, you are going to take a bath whether you like it or not!” Applejack declared reaching forward and grasping Dash's tail with her hoof.

“No, no, no!” Rainbow Dash yelled grasping for any object she could to resist Applejack's strong grip on her tail.

Her body dragged up the stairs as the earth pony tugged the pegasus all the way up to the bathroom on the second floor. After many attempts and temper tantrums the cyan pony was finally inside her luxurious bathroom, albeit begrudgingly.

Silver tiles lined the walls and floor, with a large mirror lining the back wall. Pristine marble cabinets lined the next with a crystal sink, and upon a hook hung a purple bathrobe with Rainbow’s initials sewed onto it in golden thread. Soft towels of multiple colors were stacked in a rainbow sequenced pattern in front of a grand bathtub. The bathtub was big enough for a pool party of six, and had matching aqua curtains for privacy of one.

“I am not going to take a bath! Let go of me!” Rainbow Dash squealed in frustration, pounding on the cool tiled floor.

“Gladly, your tail is filthy!” Applejack spat out trotting to the tub and began to turn the knob that caused the crystal clear water to flow out from a cloud above. “I am going to get you clean and you're going to like it!”

“Hmph, you're no fun.” the pegasus sighed digging through her matted mane in hidden, unfortunate disgust.

“Now then, where do you keep your soap? Unless of course, you got it shoved down your throat already for your dirty mouth!” the earth pony grunted reaching for the endless row of cabinets. Ignoring the protests from the cyan pegasus, AJ slid the large sliding doors of the cabinet open revealing one of Rainbow's big secrets. There on a higher up large shelf in plain view were bottles of high quality rainbow mane dye.

“Please don’t tell Rarity!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she tripped on the floor mat and fell backward into the tub.

Applejack let out a hearty laugh, snatching each needed color of dye, the shampoo, the conditioner as well as the cider scented soap she remembered making Rainbow for her last birthday.

Balancing the assorted products on her back, the blonde mare approached the now soaking wet Rainbow Dash spewing water from her mouth. As she came to stand there she set out all the cleaning products in front of her.

“When was the last time you bathed Dash, back before you got sick?” Applejack questioned as she dunked a new found bucket into the stream of water before pulling it out full.

“I didn't feel like bathing." Rainbow said as Applejack began pouring the buckets full of water on her. "Sheesh, stop treating me like a filly!” Rainbow snarled trying hard now to talk through the downpours of water trailing over her face.

“I will when you stop acting like it sugar!” the country mare retorted reaching for the shampoo.

“Mare’s Care, made with luxurious and supple ingredients to help alleviate itchy scalps and tangled tails for any pegasus under the weather.” Applejack read the back of the bottle with her most alluring voice. “Well then, I think it's time to make you more luxurious as it were.”

“Shut up!" Dash exclaimed ready to defend herself. "I only did it cause the pony models on the cover are super hot, jeez!”

Rainbow broke out into uncontrollable giggles once the blonde mare started to dig her hooves into her own rainbow colored mane. After getting used to the feeling though, a silence came over them, Applejack calmly nourishing her mane and tail back to health gradually. It was strange the cyan mare didn't feel nervous being bathed by another mare, who also happened to be her best friend.

Since they were fillies, Aj’s and Rainbow’s mother's had put them in baths together all the time to get some cute photos of them. It was also a way to have them be closer to one another. It should be strange to her, but it didn't feel wrong with their history. In fact, it actually felt pretty nice having someone truly respect her body.

Rainbow Dash dozed off to the trickles and splashes Applejack made as she massaged her rainbow hued mane and tail, untangling the knotted mess into sleek, smooth strands. Before long, she had stopped paying attention and missed the fact that Applejack had gotten her favorite cider soap, beginning to scrub her back and neck.

“H-Hey!" Rainbow giggled. "That tickles!”

The pegasus burst out of her comfort zone as the soap glided across her wing tips. This caused her wings to reflexively ponf up and smack Applejack in the face. Still sensitive as ever were the cyan mare's wings, a soap smack to her friend was unavoidable. She tuned to see Applejack staring cross-eyed at her muzzle covered in soap as a sly grin spread across her face.

“Oh,so you're goin' to play dirty huh?” the earth pony sneered as she leaped into the tub knocking over a bottle of bubble soap along with her.

The two mares cried out in joy, and Rainbow a little less loudly due to her throat. As the two splashed each other with glee the bubbles started to rise, and the two mimicked their other friends making masks and playing games with the fluffy foam. The cyan pegasus couldn't help but admire the earth pony's blonde locks damp around her neck, with freckles complimenting her eyes, and that cheeky smile that always seemed to take her breath away.

Once they had finished playing around, Applejack went and grabbed each bottle of dye. One by one applying it to Rainbow's mane and tail in color coded order. Oddly enough, the liquid seemed to naturally seep into the hair of the proper color hue. There were occasions where it would miss and land in the water turning the water into a spectrum of colors.

“Rainbow Dash," the cowpony chuckled. "Did you just wet the bath?”

Applejack joked at the now rainbow colored water, which was almost drowned by bubbles at this point.

“Me?" Rainbow laughed stepping out of the tub. "What about you? Looking like an old shriveled up prune, that water is making you old real fast!"  along with Applejack,draining the water.

Knowing her role Applejack stepped out of the tub as well, and drained the water. She then moved swiftly to fetch Rainbow's bath robe only to be splattered by the cyan pegasus drying herself off by fluttering her wings. The scent of sweetened cider filled the room as Dash's coat fluffed up into a gleaming shine mocking the true beauty beneath.

“Aj I'm already dry and now your twice as wet! You know what, you can wear my robe for today!" Dash said sticking her tongue out going back to the game they were playing before. "You have been a good little pet after all.”

Applejack happily slipped into the bath robe that warmed her body to the core. She could smell the lingering scent of cider soap upon the garment as she headed for a vanity, hidden along the back wall with her master for the day. It was time to tend to Rainbow’s head of hair, and her weapon of choice was a brush.

The pegasus plopped down huddled in a new found orange towel and stared into the mirror in front of her. Applejack reached for a brush found beside her, pulled out the existing old hair balls and began to comb through the rainbow streaks. Her hoof held her scalp in order not to harm her head as she went through each color one by one.

“Applejack?” Rainbow asked in an awfully quiet tone.

“Yes hun?” Applejack soothingly replied feeling the soft strands of hair swirling through her hoof.

“Do…do you think I'm pretty?” the can mare squeaked in the softest she ever spoke as she started longingly into the mirror.

“Why of course Ah do! All of Ponyville including me are jealous of the gorgeous head of colors you got there!” the earth pony replied concerned about the question coming from her bold pony friend.

“Yeah, but look at you! You are natural beauty with that golden blonde mane and those emerald eyes!" Dash fretted loudly yet it was almost a compliment. "I cant compete with that. Besides, what the point of keeping myself up when all everypony cares about is my undercarriage?”

Applejack slammed the brush hard onto the marble counter as Rainbow looked up with deary, sad magenta eyes. She couldn't believe what she was hearing from her friend at this moment.

“Why in Equestria would you even say that? Every day Ah have to go out with dirt on my face only ta be within earshot of Ponyville cheering on yer dazzling tricks in the sky!” The earth pony started to ramble looking to Rainbow in the mirror. “Your energetic and talented, with a coat made of the sky itself! Not to mention a rainbow sewn into your mane itself!"

Dash seemed to be lifted by her friend's compliments as she continued to ramble on.

"An' don’t even get me started on those lovely magenta gems you call eyes!” Aj bopped Rainbow on the nose earning a weak smile from her. “Ah just think you need to stop underestimating yourself, and stop putting down others by making them get in fancy costumes you hear?"

Applejack smiled softly, hoping she would get her way. Rainbow turned on her stool to face the orange mare with a glimmer in her eyes and a smile on her damp lips. Looks like her friend was ready for the attempt.

“Nice try Apples, but the outfits boost the natural beauty of other ponies!” Rainbow giggled wearily while receiving the dirtiest look from Applejack. “You know what? How about you go pick out something for yourself upstairs, and I will meet you in my room okay?”

Applejack let out a hearty sigh as she trotted towards the door out of the room. Leaving Rainbow Dash in utter solitude as she would ascend the stairs. As she huddled into the orange towel she seemed to believe was her friend’s coat.

"Wait, Applejack!" Rainbow hoarsely yelled last minute.

"Yes Rainbow?" the farm mare turned and answered.

"Thank you." Dash paused. "Thank you, for everything."

The blonde mare silently turned and left the room with her heart beating out of her chest. She knew she has been able to change something in that pegasus, and it was quite evidently showing now. Yet now, something was also now changing within her as well she felt. For better or for worse, Applejack seemed to enjoy this new adventure of change and discovery.

Once in Rainbow’s room Applejack dug under her bed for an outfit that was the least raunchy possible. As she had thought though, this wasn't in the least possible to accomplish. All of them had their unique ways to make a pony look seductive and physically appealing one way or another.

“Darn it Dash, Ah don’t even know if your sick anymore!” the cowpony mumbled tucking a loose lock back into her mane when an idea hit her. "Wait a minute, she said I could pick fer myself!"

She darted into Rainbow's personal closet, stripping out of the bathrobe in an instant. She began digging through all the garments the cyan pegasus had worn in the past. Her friend had given her the opportunity to turn this around, and it was about time this country bumpkin was in control!